all pages marked * have new content added since 1st March 2024
Canadian Connections
Between 1912 and the early 1920s, four of William & Ann's children emigrated to Canada: Ed, the eldest, had been first, moving to Montreal in 1912; Flip joined him in 1916 - we think shortly after his father's death and on his mother's insistence.
After the war, Bass emigrated in 1920, first to Montreal, later moving to Toronto; Adrian followed the
same route, leaving the UK in 1925 and remaining in Toronto until his death in 1954.
Other members of the family also spent some time in Canada: Ray had been the first to join Ed, but returned to the UK before the beginning of World War I; Veronica went in 1927, remaining for a couple of years before her return; Justin worked for a time in the family business in the early 1930s, before returning to the UK and responding to his (second) call to priesthood.
Isabel visited briefly in 1919, travelling back with Ed from one of his visits to the UK ). Ann eventually managed a visit in 1939, when she travelled with Ed's eldest daughter Margaret on her return from a visit to the UK, for a long stay to enable her to see all her children, grandchildren and first great-grandchild. With the outbreak of World War II, she nearly didn't make it back, but was able to return in 1940. Years later, in 1961, Anita enjoyed a holiday in Canada and the US and in 1964 Betty (Jim's eldest) & Doug, with their two boys (Greg & Tim), called at both Montreal and Toronto on the way home from the States. Amongst more recent visits, Richard Dawson and Greg Bamber (grandsons of Jim & Lily) were there in 1978 and 2023 respectively (see below).
TO ALL DESCENDANTS OF ED, BASS and FLIP DAWSON
Dear cousins one and all, if you have information (new / to correct),
pictures, memories, or anything else that would help build these pages,
please get in touch using the address at the foot of the page
or contact Richard directly on richardfdawson@mac.com
Dave Humes (left), Johanne Humes (Dave’s wife) and Greg Bamber
in the Humes’ garden near Montreal, June 2023.
Dave is Flip’s grandson and Greg is Jim's grandson. The Aunties "Nita & Vera" had connected Dave and Greg when they were both about 6 as pen-pals. Dave and Greg have kept in touch with each other ever since. The Aunties also tried to connect others of that generation as pen-pals; which others can recall such trans-Atlantic family connections?
Dave & Greg have both published books, including “Born Again Hunter”(2011) volume 1, by David Dawson Humes as cited here,
and a couple of other books by Dave that also touch on family history.
Greg and his brother Tim spent the 1963-64 academic year with their parents living near Boston, MA. US, when their Dad Doug Bamber was leading a UK-US teacher-exchange program. This gave the Bamber family an opportunity to visit Dave and other Dawson relatives, including Flip, Gert & others in Montreal, and Bass, Nel & others in Toronto. When travelling to Canada as an academic, Greg has been lucky enough also to visit Dave et al. several times since then; he says that Dave resembles his grandad (Greg's Great Uncle Flip) and is a lovely 'bloke’, a talented business leader and a tremendous catcher and chef of fish!
1978 Diary of Richard Francis
Dawson
Montreal Quebec Sunday 5th March
Taken from the diary of Richard Francis Dawson while on a Greyhound Bus tour of America & Canada
I looked at my list of addresses for relations in the area and found Uncle Flip’s address and phone number living in Point Claire. I called the number and Uncle Flip answered sounding friendly and old. We arranged to have dinner together tomorrow night. He said he’d pick me up but which branch of the family was I? I soon felt at home.
Monday 6th March
At 4.50 the bell rang and Great Uncle Flip was at the door looking vaguely like Grandpa (James) and wheezing and huffing after tackling three flights of stairs. Getting into his old Thunderbird that had rusted in all the important places we chatted and reminisced about the one time we met - Uncle Justin’s 25th Anniversary of the Priesthood and I placed him in the family tree.
He lives at the moment with grandson Bob in Point Claire in a modest bungalow with a cellar. When driving up to the garage he pushed a button under the dashboard and the doors opened automatically.
Inside he showed me around the place and offered me a drink so I took a beer. A large picture of Richard Fabian Dawson commanded a large part of one of the walls and the son of Uncle Flip who I’d been named after and had died in the war having been in the Royal Canadian Air Force and was buried in Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.
Flip’s grandson Bob turned out to be a good ice hockey player and I found out where he was playing tomorrow night so Brian (my travelling companion I had met on Kibbutz Gesher in Israel from Margate in Kent) and I could see a live game before leaving Canada. Uncle Flip put three ham steaks in the oven and later we ate them with potatoes and peas. In the background a slipping 8-track played Ilkley Moor Bah Tat and other English ditties. The third time over Bob asked if he could change the tape and Flip said “When you can recite all the words we’ll change the tape.” He may be old but he’s retained his sense of humour. After the meal he taught me Cribbage and then showed me slides in the cellar including Uncle Justin’s do starring my brother Paul and I in full altar boy regalia.
Then we watched M*A*S*H* and parted and his daughter dropped me back downtown.
Report of the death of
Sgt Richard Fabian Dawson, RCAF, killed in operatons,
23rd April, 1944.
Norm Dawson's
Story
email received on 6th September 2022
Hi Richard. Just so you know who I am. I am Flip's third youngest of 12 kids. Grew up in Montreal and 13 homes later I am retired in Waco Tx. Both my oldest brother and my youngest brother were Richards. Big Ritchie was killed in the war and little Ritchie died a few years ago from Cancer. There are four of the kids left Francis in Toronto 90*, Ann in Vancouver 90+ John in Alberta 80 and myself 82 in Texas. We have always been proud to be Dawsons and you should know my Dad Flip died at 94 and he still had his British accent. I am very excited to know the rest of the family. May God continue to bless you and yours. Norm